The agencies said that the Swedish embassy in Pyongyang, which handles U.S. diplomatic affairs in North Korea, had contacted them by phone to inform them of the decision, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Congress had been planning to take up new legislation to implement a ban on travel to North Korea by U.S. citizens following Warmbier's death after he was imprisoned by North Korea for 17 months.

"We need to," said Rep. Ed Royce, chair of the House foreign affairs committee. "People watch these websites that guarantee they can go into North Korea and be secure, be safe, these glossy presentations -- and the reality is that many of these visitors end up being used as bargaining chips by the North Korean regime."

Sen. John McCain said in June that Americans who are “stupid” enough to still want to travel to North Korea after Warmbier's death should be required to sign a waiver absolving the U.S. government of any blame should they be harmed while there.

The United States, South Korea and others have accused North Korea of using foreign detainees as hostages to secure diplomatic concessions. Three Americans remain in custody in the North.